CarMax, Inc vs Nerdwallet Inc — how do they compare? CarMax, Inc trades at $57.72 (market cap $7.93B), while Nerdwallet Inc trades at $9.04 (market cap $603.70M). The key difference: CarMax, Inc is far larger — about 13.1× Nerdwallet Inc's market cap, and CarMax, Inc is trading nearer its 52-week high, Nerdwallet Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| KMX | NRDS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $7.93B | $603.70M |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Financials |
52-Week High | $63.53 | $15.93 |
52-Week Low | $30.88 | $7.58 |
Enterprise Value | $26.44B | $518.00M |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CarMax (KMX) trades at $55.89, down 2.51% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but a neutral stance from oscillators. The company reported mixed earnings, with a Q2 2025 miss but subsequent beats in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026. Revenue has trended down from $31.9B in 2022 to $26.35B in 2025, though net income margin improved slightly to 1.89%. Recent news highlights a strategic turnaround under new CEO Keith Barr, with insider buying and positive analyst updates despite an ongoing legal investigation.
The outlook for KMX hinges on successful execution of its four-pillar strategy to boost volume and efficiency, offering potential upside if targets are met. However, high debt levels, margin pressure, and legal scrutiny pose significant risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with a hold-heavy rating and a price target of $48.91 below the current price, indicating skepticism about near-term growth.
NerdWallet (NRDS) trades at $9.17, down 0.97% with a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $0.29 versus $0.25 expected. Revenue grew to $836.6M in 2025 with improving net margins from -1.9% in 2022 to 5.82%. Valuation metrics appear attractive with P/E of 9.96 and P/S of 0.81. Recent news highlights the company's pivot to higher-margin transactions and launch of financial resilience indices.
The stock presents a compelling value opportunity with 39% upside to the $12.75 consensus target. Strong profitability metrics (93% gross margin, 19.47% ROE) and positive cash flow trends support the bullish case. Key risks include search-driven revenue headwinds and competitive pressures in financial guidance markets. Analyst consensus leans bullish with 4 buy ratings versus 1 hold and 1 sell.
Trailing returns across standard periods
CarMax sells, finances, and services used and new cars through a chain of over 230 used retail stores. It was formed in 1993 as a unit of Circuit City and spun off into an independent company in late 2002. Used-vehicle sales typically account for about 83% of revenue and wholesale about 13%, with the remaining portion composed of extended service plans and repair. In fiscal 2022, the company retailed and wholesaled 924,338 and 706,212 used vehicles, respectively. CarMax is the largest used-vehicle retailer in the U.S. but still estimates that it has only about 4% U.S. market share of vehicles 0-10 years old in 2021. It seeks over 5% share by the end of calendar 2025 and revenue between $33 billion to $45 billion by fiscal 2026. CarMax is based in Richmond, Virginia.
Read more on KMX →Nerdwallet Inc is a free tool to find you the best credit cards, cd rates, savings, checking accounts, scholarships, healthcare and airlines.
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